 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 by Staff Writers Manila, Philippines (AFP) March 4, 2017
The Philippines' defence secretary on Saturday visited a US aircraft carrier patrolling the South China Sea, hailing the "strong relationship" with Washington despite President Rodrigo Duterte's pivot away from Manila's traditional ally. The US Navy said the USS Carl Vinson had been engaging in "routine operations in the South China Sea" since last month to assert freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway claimed by Beijing, Manila and a host of other Southeast Asian nations. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he and other top officials in Duterte's administration had a "very interesting and informative" visit to the aircraft carrier. "We have a strong relationship with the US on account of our mutual defence treaty," he added, referring to the cornerstone 1951 agreement. Duterte has thrown the Philippines' 70-year-old alliance with the US into question, threatening a "separation" from Washington last year and calling for the withdrawal of American troops from his country. After angrily rejecting US criticism of his deadly war on drugs, the firebrand president has shifted his nation's foreign policy more towards China and Russia. Duterte has made overtures to Beijing despite a long-running territorial dispute over the South China Sea. Lorenzana said the Philippines had "nothing to do" with America's naval patrols through Chinese-claimed waters but said he was "impressed" by the aircraft carrier and its some 70 aircraft. "They have more combat planes than the (Philippine Air Force)," he told AFP. Under previous governments, Manila tried to improve defence ties with its former colonial ruler Washington to boost one of Asia's weakest armed forces. Duterte has said he plans to source weapons from Beijing and Moscow instead.
China to outline national priorities as Congress opensBeijing (AFP) March 4, 2017 China's rubber-stamp legislature opens its annual session on Sunday with Premier Li Keqiang due to announce the government's 2017 growth target for the world's second largest economy and major policy priorities. The National People's Congress (NPC) brings together thousands of politicians from across China, touted by the ruling Communist Party as proof that it answers to the people despite a ... read more Related Links Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com 
|
||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
